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TUSCALOOSA – Since the Alabama football team knows how to stop the run as one of the top defenses in the country, opponents tend to lean on the pass.

So the defensive backs better be ready.

They were against Mississippi State on Saturday night. Their play led to the 25-20 victory to take the SEC West Division lead.

Alabama, now ranked No. 2, needed all three interceptions the secondary produced to stop the Bulldogs, then ranked No. 1.

Mississippi State has a potent offense that gained 428 total yards against Alabama, and 290 of them passing. There were 27 of 48 passes completed.

“I do think our secondary has improved over the course of the year,” Saban said. “Them getting the turnovers, the picks were big.”

Safeties Landon Collins and Prattville native Nick Perry read the quarterback and put themselves in the right place to make their interceptions.

Perry’s came in the first half to help Alabama take control of the game with the first 19 points of the game.

“Nick has been doing a great job,” Collins said. “Hands down to him. He knows the defense better than I do. He’s been who we need him to be.”

Perry also led the team with 12 tackles and helped on one tackle for a loss.

Collins secured his interception in the fourth quarter to end any hope of any Mississippi State comeback.

“We were confusing the quarterback, showing him different coverages, showing different techniques we were playing just to get him confused so he makes bad decisions and bad throws,” Collins said. “That’s what we did against them.”

Cyrus Jones grabbed his pick in the end zone to stop a Mississippi State scoring opportunity in the third quarter. The Bulldogs were driving with ease and took a shot down the sideline at Jones.

He was in one-on-one coverage and read the receiver and that the field was ending. Jones turned around the ball was coming right at him.

“Cyrus has done a good job for us all year long,” Saban said. “He has been our best cover corner. Certainly did a good job tonight against a tough matchup, especially size-wise for him.”

Jones was matched up against De’Runnya Wilson, a 6-foot-5 receiver. Jones stands 5-10, so he had to play a physical game to compete.

Wilson caught his share of passes with eight for 91 yards, but Jones limited him with tight coverage and two pass breakups.

“We definitely improved a lot,” Jones said of the secondary. “We had a bunch of guys who have not been out there together a lot, so we definitely improved. With any group, you need time to jell as a whole unit.”

Eddie Jackson manned the other cornerback position and was equally tough against the pass. He had a game-high three pass breakups.

“Both Eddie and me did a good job tonight, and it helped the defense out a lot,” Jones said. “I think our preparation put us in position to make plays.”

Jackson missed games early due to recovering from ACL surgery. He was the team’s top cover corner at the end of last season, and is steadily playing back into form.

“I do think early on we had guys hurt, different combinations in the lineup that sort of affected us, and ended up playing a freshman, Tony Brown, a couple games,” Saban said. “Getting Eddie back healthy gave us more experience with a guy who has played and made plays.”

Saban also praised the work of Jarrick Williams, who typically plays in nickel and dime formations. He’s a big hitter on run support.

Geno Smith, however, was used more to cover the slot receiver on passing downs against the Bulldogs. Saban thought it was a better coverage matchup, and said Smith did a good job.

Alabama’s total defense now ranks sixth in the country with 290.5 yards allowed game. The run defense ranks third at 94.6 yards a game.

Now the pass defense has emerged with 195.9 yards a game, ranked 23rd. There have been seven interceptions in the last five and nine on the season.

“We have also minimized explosive plays, which is the biggest thing,” Saban said. “We didn’t have any last week at LSU. Even though (Mississippi State) had quite a few yards, they had to go the hard way most of the time.”